PRINCE Harry spent the night of his milestone 40th birthday without wife Meghan Markle as rumours swirl.
The Duke of Sussex went on a hiking trip with pals to celebrate his big day – and failed to mention Meghan, 43, in his birthday thanks message.
Their separate plans, followed by Harry’s solo trips across the past few weeks, has sparked speculation surrounding their relationship.
Although sources close to the couple insist it was Meghan who organised the lads’ trip, experts warned it could be a key sign things are not so rosy.
It was also reported Meghan ditched a charity event at the last minute in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband because she was “sick”.
In fact, the mum-of-two has not been seen since September 14 — the day before Harry turned 40.
And, sources claim, for periods earlier this year, she was rarely staying at their luxury Montecito pad.
Meanwhile, Harry was said to be “moping around” on his own at a local cafe.
Previous claims last year that Meghan and Harry spent extended spells apart were denied by those close to the couple.
It was said that, like any other couple, they have disagreements but remained strong.
However, Meghan has reportedly been frustrated with Harry’s legal cases over his UK security bids.
And the couple reportedly disagreed on how to raise their children, Archie, now five, and Lilibet, three.
Harry, The Sun has been told, did not want the kids to be seen in public in case they were photographed.
But Meghan would allegedly prefer a more relaxed lifestyle, allowing them to attend more local events.
It comes as Prince Harry beamed from ear to ear in photos taken on his latest trip to his beloved Africa.
But missing from the snaps of the Duke with children and long-time friends at his charity Sentebale in Lesotho was his wife.
The Duchess of Sussex previously accompanied him to the continent, including in May this year.
Prince Harry opens up on solo trip without Meghan as he reunites with old friend around bonfire on Africa visit
By Morgan Johnson
PRINCE Harry has demanded “people from the top start listening” in a bonfire chat while on a trip to Africa.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, has taken yet another solo trip, with wife Meghan Markle noticeably absent, to drive work for his charity Sentebale.
His journey to Africa comes just five weeks before estranged brother Prince William travels to Cape Town for the fourth Earthshot Prize.
It is understood Princess Kate will not be joining him.
On Harry’s first night in Lesotho he was reunited with old pal and co-founder of Sentebale, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, around a firepit.
The pair discussed the charity, which supports children and young people living with, or who are at risk from, HIV, and what it’s been working on.
Harry said: “We’re hitting the targets, not just Sentebale but all of the departments are, and it’s making a massive difference, and it is this surge of energy and optimism and the voice of young people ranging from six to 25 – and the biggest difference of which really needs more work, is when people from the top start listening.”
Prince Seeiso added: “This whole journey of Sentebale started from that element of [Harry] having come to the motherland – he’s now my younger brother Mohali, the warrior – but experiencing breathing the same air, eating the same food as the children… that inspired this dream to come to where we are now.
“But it is that deep felt need that we want, collectively, to make a difference in our lifetime, and not only in our lifetimes, but to leave a legacy and pass on the baton to the next generation so that’s why we are going out in all different angles.”
Harry spent two months in the landlocked African kingdom during his gap year back in 2004.
And the experience made a lasting impression on the Duke – who was just 19 at the time.
Two years later, he launched Sentebale which means “forget me not” in a sweet nod to his mother Princess Diana – who famously met with AIDS patients in hospital.
In 2006, one in three children in the country had lost parents to HIV AIDS-related illness.
The charity now works across Lesotho and Botswana helping those most vulnerable.
Earlier in the day, Harry had lunch with Prince Seeiso’s niece, Princess Senate Seeiso of Lesotho.
The pair posed for a picture before the princess posted it on Instagram, writing: “Had the pleasure of hosting the Duke of Sussex today for lunch.”
Harry last visited Lesotho in 2018 and his latest trip will see him meet local leader and youth advocates.
The group will head to Lesotho “to witness Sentebale’s programmes at work.”
In fact the couple have travelled together on two major overseas engagements this year.
But this is the most recent in a series of solo trips for Harry.
It has even prompted a source close to Harry and Meghan to address the speculation.
The Sussexes’ confidante insisted: “It is normal for couples to not do everything together.”
This comes after the duke attended at a string of events in New York unaccompanied by his wife.
The duke appeared on his own at an event for the Halo Trust – a landmine charity which was close to Di’s heart.
He was also pictured without Meg during a high-level dinner organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Big Apple on Sunday.
Their separate appearances also included Harry’s surprise TV stint and tour of a haunted maze on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
And the dad-of-two was snapped outside and spent an hour inside a tattoo shop in Manhattan.
On Monday he jetted to the UK capital on his lonesome and did not see his father the King, or have any contact with his brother, Prince William.
Instead his time was taken up by honouring seriously ill youngsters at the WellChild Awards in London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel.
The Duke has been a patron of the charity for 16 years.
He beamed with joy as he hugged youngsters and told them in a speech that they were “little legends”.
One of those attending said: “He looked like the old Harry we knew and loved.
“He always came alive at events like this, but lately he has seemed quite glum.
“He was on good form, full of energy and seemed quite happy to be on his own.”
A spokesperson for the Sussexes was contacted for comment.
Prince Harry’s tattoo shop visit without Meghan is major hint couple could have separate plans for future, warns expert
By Summer Raemason
PRINCE Harry’s tattoo shop visit and upcoming solo trip without Meghan is a major hint the couple could have separate future plans, claimed an expert.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, was spotted at a tattoo parlour in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and stayed for over an hour yesterday.
It was also revealed Harry will be jetting to Lesotho and South Africa early next month without Meghan Markle.
This comes after the duke attended at a string of events in New York unaccompanied by his wife, who stayed behind in Montecito, California.
Their separate appearances, including Harry’s surprise TV stint and tour of a haunted maze on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, has sparked rampant speculation regarding their future together.
Royal expert Hugo Vickers hailed the upcoming Lesotho and South Africa trips.
He told The Sun: “I rather commend what he’s doing with this, because this is more outgoing.
“It’s like when he does things with the Invictus Games and things like that.
“But there seems to be a pattern forming, even in these last few days, that he is going out on his own and doing things.”
The expert suggested there could be multiple reasons for the divide.
“One could be that, you know. He does indeed wish to establish himself more as the old Harry,” he said.
“It could be quite simply that Meghan Markle has responsibilities with her young children, and therefore feels she has to stay at home with them.
But he added: “There is a separation of, you know, of their different engagements, and that he’s going to be going more solo, in which case watch this space.”
Meghan and Harry have put on a largely inseparable front since quitting the UK and moving to the States in 2020.
But Mr Vickers warned the duke may have grown tired of Meg’s presence – and the negativity it attracts.
“It always seems to me that when she’s around she’s dictating the narrative, and that he kind of is very compliant and just goes along,” he said.
“A lot of the things that he says publicly I have always suspected are dictated by her. So I do wonder a little bit whether he isn’t trying to establish himself more in his own right.”
However, the expert hinted Meghan could still be behind everything.
He said: “It could be that she commends this idea because it gives him more of a a profile and sort of ups his game, and therefore, when they go out together in public, they’re more valuable.”
On the future of Harry and Meghan’s relationship, Mr Vickers added “personally think it’s quite likely to not end too well for [Harry]”.
Regarding rumours swirling their marriage, the expert suggested they may stay together – to preserve their image.
“It is possible that they need to keep stay together to keep their brand,” he said.